The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) issued a new standard EN 17191:2021 for children's seating. This standard applies to products for children who can already walk and sit. It contains general and specific safety requirements as well as test methods for seating, excluding those that are used in educational organizations. Among specific requirements are such as:

‍

• Chemicals requirements
• Fire and thermal hazards
• Strength and durability
• Stability requirements
• Product information

‍

Please, note that the product information requirements have been added to this standard and mark the necessity of essential warnings and safety information for the consumer.

Thus, the standard indicates 3 seating sizes depending on the age of their users. That is why, there are the following requirements to the seat height:

‍

1. seats with the height equal or less than 270 mm
2. seats with the height over 270 mm up to 360 mm
3. seats with the height over 360 mm

‍

Besides, when it is not possible to determine the size of the seat, it should be tested as size 1 seating for all tests, except for testing against strength and durability. In this case, the seat should be categorized as size 3 seating.

The EN 17191 was issued in support of essential requirements specified in the European general product safety directive. It has three official versions in English, French, and German. However, the CEN notifies that it is possible to translate standard to another language and receive status of the official version to this translated document in case the translation was made under the responsibility of a CEN member and the CEN-CENELEC management center is informed about this document. 

The standard was released in July 2021. However, there is a transitional period up to January 2022. By this date, national standards bodies that are connected with the CEN must implement this standard at the national level and recall mutually exclusive national standards.

‍

‍

The information has been prepared by the GMA Consult Group team.‍

GMA Consult Group provides a full cycle of international type approval and global market access services for IT, Telecom, and industrial electrical products in all countries throughout the world. With proven expertise in worldwide regulations, compliance, certification, and conformity assessment, GMA Consult Group can help your company speed up the access to any market with almost zero efforts from your side.

Need your own guide to the world of certification and approvals? Don't hesitate to contact us via info@gma.trade.

‍